IV. Origin of the expression. a. In the defects of man. 1. His selfishness. "The selfish heart deserves the pain it feels: YOUNG. 2. His morbid sentiment, which often inclines him to believe that evil exists where none can be found. Fictitious writings have had much to do with this. "They attack the heart more successfully, because more cautiously." KNOX. b. In the nature of pleasure and pain. Pain makes the deeper impression on the mind. We therefore remember the evil rather than the good, especially if caused by others. This also causes us to form worse opinions of our opponents than they rightfully deserve. Evil, like the foam on the surface of water, is easily seen; and we believe it to be more extensive than it really is. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame." V. The noblest pleasures are not public. a. Those springing from goodness of heart and deep religious feeling the communings of the soul with God. b. The pleasures of friendship, especially those of the family circle. "Domestic happiness, thou only bliss Of Paradise that has survived the Fall." S. RICHARDSON. VI. Conclusion. Let us, then, not consider the world as only "a vale of tears," but rather as a place where man may enjoy a foretaste of the bliss that awaits him whose life corresponds to his calling. "This world is not so bad a world as some would like to make it: Though whether good, or whether bad, depends on how we take it." 94. POSTHUMOUS PRAISE. I. An old adage says, "He who wishes to be praised must first die." This is especially true of those who are animated with noble thoughts which they wish to impart to their fellow-men; those who strive to make their fellow-mortals better and happier. II. Proof. a. History furnishes numerous illustrations of this truth. III. Causes. a. One generally appreciates only what he no longer pos sesses. b. As contemporaries, we are led away by prejudices, partyspirit, and personalities. c. Death brings about a change of sentiment. There is, then, no cause for jealousy. The competitor, the man of noble aspirations, is no more to be feared. The genius whom we wished to overcome has departed. Now we go to pay him the tribute of praise. Such is human nature. IV. Lessons to be drawn from these considerations. a. Charity. Be generous in your judgments of the living. Think how you would feel if they were snatched away by death. Why not be just, and give to the living that to which you deem the dead entitled? b. Patience. When your efforts for the common good are misrepresented, be not uneasy, go on in your good work your reward is sure, if not in this life, then beyond the grave. 95. THE EGYPTIAN CUSTOM OF JUDGING THE DEAD. I. Introduction. a. The Egyptians were a most intelligent people of antiquity. They had no pattern or guide but nature and reason; hence we call their land "the cradle of science." b. They were attached to certain strange customs, which were never generally adopted by any other people; as the embalming of the dead, and the building of pyra mids. c. To the Egyptians, also, belongs the custom of sitting in judgment over their dead, even kings not being excepted. II. Treatise. A. Against the custom. imitated this custom. No other nation ever "To speak well of the dead" was an ancient maxim amongst civilized people. This Egyptian custom must therefore have been repugnant to them. a. It diminished the reverence due to the departed. "Speak well of him who dieth, For he sleeps, and is at rest; Is the green earth's quiet breast.' b. The dead can not defend themselves. c. Their judges could only examine exterior actions, not interior motives: the decisions would therefore be often unjust. d. This custom did not promote virtue for its own sake: it merely prevented evil for fear of shame, and encouraged good only for the sake of applause. B. In favor of the custom. This custom must also have had its advantages, else it could not have remained in practice so long amongst such a people as the Egyptians. a. Every one wishes, that, after death, his memory may be held sacred: it was therefore a means of hindering vice. b. Some of the ancients doubted the existence of punishment after death; hence the custom of passing judgment on the dead, that justice might be done. c. The custom excited the sentiment of honor. Though fear of shame and punishment is not a pure motive of virtue, still the common weal gains when evil is prevented, whatever the cause of its prevention. III. Conclusion. -This custom may serve to give us an insight into the character of a people who walked in the light of their own unaided understanding. We are acquainted with purer and holier motives of action than they could have known. Let our lives correspond with the light which has been given us. 96. AGRICULTURE AS A SOURCE OF CIVILIZATION. I. Introduction.- - Every thing must have a cause whose influence continues while the effect remains. Man possesses within him the germs of his own development; but some external, favoring circumstance is necessary before this development can take place, just as the seeds of plants will only germinate when favored with heat and moisture. II. Agriculture is one of the original sources of man's advancement in civilization. a. It attached him to fixed habitations, thus weaning him from nomadic life. b. It drew his mind away from rude customs, the passionate love of hunting, &c., and directed him to turn the vast resources of Nature to his advantage. c. It accustomed him to regulate his activity according to the demands of the season and the temperature of the air. He thus became gradually imbued with the love of order and regularity. d. It afforded his mind greater tranquillity, and a taste for domestic life. e. By becoming more acquainted with the powers of Nature, he became more acquainted with his own powers. "Nature is man's best teacher. She unfolds Her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, An influence breathes from all the sights and sounds STREET. f. Agriculture made it necessary for man to live according to fixed laws, which gave security to life, person, and property. The desire to have his own rights respected taught him to respect the rights of others. "A man of law, a man of peace, To frame a contract or a lease." CRABBE. g. Agriculture improved social habits; the forming of associations for mutual defense against robbers, invaders, &c. III. Conclusion. Thus it appears that agriculture was at the foundation of all human improvement. Even now, it is considered as necessary to the wellbeing of states, as well as the chief source of their happiness. What material for reflection have we in our own country! A hundred years ago, a mere wilderness, a hunting-ground for the red-man; we |